Aerodynamic measurement of a track runner using a wind-tunnel moving-belt system

Abstract

Concerning most of track-and-field athletics such as the marathon, it is important to clarify the flow around track runners and to evaluate their air resistances (or wind resistances, drags). In wind-tunnel experiments which are the most effective approaches to such a problem as well as field observasions and numerical analyses the moving-belt system is indispensable for precise aerodynamic measurements, if the so-called “ground effect” is negligible. In the present study, we develop a moving-belt system, and show its basic performance such as the distributions of time-mean velocity and turbulent intensity above the moving-belt system using a hot-wire anemometer. Then, the authors investigate the air resistance of a runner in solo running and of a runner in duet running in various duet-running formations. Especially for duet-running formations, the authors reveal the optimum one.

Keywords

• wind tunnel
• moving belt
• ground effect
• aerodynamics
• boundary layer
• marathon
• air resistance
• wind resistance